History

How we grew

The popularity of nuclear science and technology has fallen over the last twenty years. This fall in popularity has resulted in a similar fall in new specialists entering the nuclear field. In comparison, most predictions of future world energy requirements all point towards nuclear being key within the solution.

This latter fact has been clearly recognised by the present young nuclear professionals. A group of whom initiated the idea of holding an International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) in 1997. This idea was grounded in their belief that the efforts the young generation organisations were making in promoting the nuclear industry in individual countries would be more efficient and have more impact if integrated globally. Such global integration required the gathering together of people interested in collaborating within the nuclear field.

At the International Forum “Youth and the Plutonium Challenge” held in Obninsk, Russia in the summer of 1998, the participants confirmed once again their interest in holding the Congress and the first meeting to organise the event took place during the European Nuclear Congress in Nice, France in autumn of the same year. It was at this meeting the youth from Russia, France, the United States and Slovakia prepared and stated the mission of the IYNC.

The city of Bratislava, Slovakia was chosen as the location for the first congress. Bratislava has a rich history dating back to the Early Stone Age. It is a comfortable, placid and inexpensive city situated in the center of Europe not far from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

The Congress was supported by the representative organisations of the nuclear industry from around the world. This support gave the Congress the impetus to attract sponsorship from international organisations which in turn allowed it to bring together many international experts and young professionals from around the globe.Such an involved event could not take place without significant preparation and an executive commitee was set up and held several preparatory meetings in Boston, USA; Obninsk, Russia; and Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Executive Committee included the representatives from different countries and different organizations who worked intensively over a period of two years. They invited young nuclear professionals through out the world to provide their opinions on the future of the nuclear industry and their ideas to stimulate both its growth and awakening interest in it. Many organizations responded and sent their young specialists to the Congress all of which enabled the commitee to convert the dream of the congress into a reality.